Zero Turn Mower

deereowner · Sep 23, 2005

You offered great advice on the Gravely. It wound up selling for $4500, to someone else.

I received the votes for the Zforce 50. I may go that route. I am so partial to Honda motors, though, that it is hard to pass on the Hustler. Plus, it has a 4 yr warranty when used for residential use, where the others are 2 yrs. But...$1,000 more, so may still be hard to justify. I would imagine that the Zforce would easily have no problems with going 4 yrs with no problems, since my yard is not that big.

I also appreciate the tip on the Massey Fergusons, but that price is way over what I am ready to spend!
Thanks!

FOURTEEN · Sep 25, 2005

( it is hard to pass on the Hustler. Plus, it has a 4 yr warranty when used for residential use, where the others are 2 yrs. But...$1,000 more, so may still be hard to justify. )

 Try to get some seat time on each. I think you will find that the quality of the Hustler is well worth it! The money saved won't amount to much if every time you cut you think: "Gee, I wish I would have gone for the Hustler!!"! Also, with your small yard, the Hustler may be the last mower you will ever need to buy! Divide the extra cost by the number of years you can use it, and you will see that it's not much to go first class!! When you buy a new car, I'll bet that you don't just buy the cheapest one you can find!!

deereowner · Sep 29, 2005

I keep thinking the same thing. I don't want to be saying, "I wish I had gotten the Hustler." I am doing that now with my John Deere LT (wishing I had gone up in engine and deck size). If I had done that, I might not be looking now. Now I just have to make the plunge and do it.
Thanks, everyone, for the great advice. I wish I had known about this website before I bought my first riding mower.

FOURTEEN · Sep 30, 2005

( I wish I had known about this website before I bought my first riding mower. )

 That's why we are here - to help other people spend their money!!

PS: Hopefully wisely!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

deereowner · Oct 4, 2005

I finally bit the bullet and chose the Hustler Fastrak, 52" cut with 20 Horse Honda engine. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif It is going to be delivered on Monday, and I can't wait to use it. Chose it based on the 4 yr warranty for residential use, lifetime warranty on the leading edge of the deck, heavy build at decent price and the Honda engine. Plus the dealer gave me what I think is a great deal, $4550, and list is about $5600. I will post how I like it after I actually use it on my yard. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Thanks for all of the great advice. I am telling others about this website.

FOURTEEN · Oct 5, 2005

( I finally bit the bullet and chose the Hustler Fastrak, 52" cut with 20 Horse Honda engine. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )

 Prices go up about 10% on 11/1/5!!

I pick up my new 52/20 this afternoon!! By convincing you, I convinced myself that the 52/20 was the best residential ZTR around!! Like the three bears, the Super Mini Z is too much, the Mini FasTrac isn't enough, but the FasTrac is 'just right'!!

Hustler FasTrac

deereowner · Oct 5, 2005

Congratulations! Let me know how you like it, you may get yours before I get mine.

deereowner · Oct 10, 2005

The Hustler Fastrak owner's manual says that the mower is safe on up to a 15% slope. That does not seem very steep, and I think that even my old lawn tractor could handle that, and surely that would be easy for a ZTM, even if I am mowing horizontally.

Realistically, is it safe on a slightly steeper slope? I would imagine that the manufacturer is ultra conservative, due to liability issues. Also, if I mow vertically down the slope, or up, what is realistically a safe degree of slope?

I don't want to take any chances, but also don't want to weed eat, or use a push mower, when I can use the ZTM.
Thanks!

FOURTEEN · Oct 11, 2005

( The Hustler Fastrak owner's manual says that the mower is safe on up to a 15% slope. )

 The owner's manual for the Dixie Chopper Silver Eagle I almost bought said no more than 5 degrees!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

HammerFour · Oct 11, 2005

Dixie Choppers are pretty tall compared to other ZTR mowers. I use our dixon on slopes that are way past 15%, I will have to throw my tilt gauge on it and see what they are. The slopes are steep enough that I have to make sure I keep the front wheels pointed across the slope or uphill, if they ever point downslope its off into the ditch I go...haha.

The key is ( at least on this mower ) is keep the front end pointed across our up hill, keep the rear end ( with all the weight ) downhill to maintain traction. I mow across the slope, pivot and point the wheels uphill, easy backwards down slope, pivot and point the wheels back across the slope the other way, and mow across. It takes a bit of dragging the uphill rearwheel to keep the front end pointed across, I have thought about putting a foot pedal on there that would lock the front wheels in a straight position to make this stuff easier to do.

Anyhow...I would think most ztr could easily mow on a 25% slope, just be careful to avoid pointing the front end downhill. With the rear engine and low center of gravity, I find myself popping the front tires off the ground if I move the levers forward to abruptly. Nothing bad comes of it, the engine mounting bracket acts as a wheelie bar, I relax pressure and ease the front end down, and go back to mowing.